Spontaneous Combustion of Oil-Soaked Rags Causes New Jersey House Fire

Apr 2, 2025

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Courtesy of Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention

A house fire started in Toms River, N.J., when a pile of oil-soaked rags caught ablaze after the wood floors inside the home were redone less than 48 hours before.

The fire broke out in the house around 5 a.m. March 29, after oil-soaked rags in a debris pile located inside the garage caught fire, the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention reported, adding that neighbors observed smoke coming from the home.

The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and there were no reported injuries to first responders or civilians.

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